Development of 70/30 Poly-L-DL-Lactic Acid Filaments for 3D Printers (Part 1 ): Filament Manufacturing and Characterization of Printed Samples for Use as Bioabsorbable Products

Abstract

The aim of this work was to manufacture 70/30 poly-L-DL-lactic acid (PLDLLA) filaments for three-dimensional (3D) printers by using the extrusion technique and to study the properties of filaments and printed plates for surgical fracture stabilization. Different extrusion methodologies were tested and filaments were analyzed in terms of homogeneity, accuracy diameter, finishing surface morphology, and chemical degradation. X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry showed that the filaments have less crystallinity than does the raw material. Infrared and thermogravimetric analysis showed no evidence of chemical degradation. Surgical plates made with the filaments revealed small changes in the material properties after the printing process. PLDLLA filament extrusion and 3D printing are a promising way to satisfy the demand of implantable bioabsorbable products.